EIGHT years of dedication paid off for Brad Ryan and Steve Brookfield, who recently achieved their black belts in Jiu Jitsu.

Eighteen-year-old Ryan, from Westbrook, and 30-year-old Birchwood-based Brookfield finally got their hands on the belts after being taken through a gruelling final session by instructors Dave Machell and Jon Gouling of Dragon Martial Arts.

Brookfield continues to train with Dragon, while Ryan takes his skills to Leeds Beckett University, where he is studying Sport Development for the next three years.